30 Convincing Reasons to Start Running Now

30 Convincing Reasons to Start Running Now

What promises a healthier body, a sunnier outlook, and the perfect opportunity to catch up? This is no infomercial. Running is one of the best butt-kicking, calorie-blasting workouts around. Still not convinced? Here are 30 reasons to hit the ground running.

1. Do it anywhere.

Run, that is. Whether on the treadmill or in the park, it’s easy to rack up miles. Even better: Lace up your sneakers on your next vacation to explore a new place.

2. Make new friends.

Tired of meeting duds at the bar? Check out local running groups or websites like and hit the road with other health-minded folks. Twenty questions is just as good during a run (boozy brunches afterward are optional).

3. Save some cash.

Forget fancy equipment or a pricey gym membership. When it comes to running, all you need is the right footwear.

4. Visit the doctor less.

Apples aren't the only things that keep the doctor away. Active people are to develop colon cancer. And ladies, women who regularly engage in intense workouts like running can of breast cancer by up to 30 percent.

6. Keep it interesting.

Forget boring laps around a track. Interval training helps boost metabolism and rev cardiovascular fitness. Bonus: Research shows people who do intervals have more fun while running (really!) and might be more likely to keep it up. Bartlett JD, Close GL, MacLaren DP. Journal of sports sciences, 2011, Jul.;29(6):1466-447X.

7. Live longer.

Not only do runners have fewer disabilities and remain active longer than their sedentary counterparts, but they actually live longer too. And even as weekly running times decrease with age, the healthy benefits keep on ticking. Chakravarty EF, Hubert HB, Lingala VB. Archives of internal medicine, 2008, Sep.;168(15):1538-3679.

8. Get primal.

Turns out Bruce Springsteen was right: We were born to run. Running turned us from apes to humans and was to elude prey.

9. Feel the burn.

For a 160-pound person, running an hour.

10. Bring sexy back.

Not only does having a rockin’ runner’s bod , but regular exercise can also help flexibility between the sheets—and get you in the mood more often.

11. Boost memory.

Exercise has been shown to help . Hitting the track might also reduce symptoms of dementia and protect the brain against Alzheimer’s, even for those with a family history of it. García-Mesa Y, López-Ramos JC, Giménez-Llort L. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, 2011, Sep.;24(3):1875-8908. Winker R, Lukas I, Perkmann T. Wiener klinische Wochenschrift, 2010, Nov.;122(23-24):1613-7671.

13. Get a natural glow.

Believe it or not, working up a sweat can rid your pores of the gunk that clogs them and leads to breakouts. Schittek B, Hipfel R, Sauer B. Nature immunology, 2001, Dec.;2(12):1529-2908. A solid sweat session can also boost natural oils, keeping things fresh and healthy. (Just remember to remove makeup preworkout and wash gently afterward to avoid breakouts.)

14. Improve self-esteem.

Need another excuse to go green? Runners who ran outside and snagged a good view of nature showed increased self-esteem post-workout than those who had only unpleasant scenes to gaze at. Pretty J, Peacock J, Sellens M. International journal of environmental health research, 2006, Feb.;15(5):0960-3123. Ahem, dreadmill.

15. Stay steady.

Older runners keep their balance better than nonrunners, protecting their knees and tendons in the process. Be careful not to overdo it, though: Too much exercise can lead to stress injuries and bone loss. Karamanidis K, Arampatzis A. European journal of applied physiology, 2006, Oct.;99(1):1439-6319.

16. Turn down the pressure.

Running is a natural way to keep high blood pressure —and fast. Amping up workouts can help lower blood pressure in . Chase NL, Sui X, Lee DC. American journal of hypertension, 2009, Feb.;22(4):1941-7225.

17. Build stronger bones.

Resistance training is awesome, but word on the street is running might help produce even stronger bones than cranking out reps. Rector RS, Rogers R, Ruebel M. Journal of strength and conditioning research / National Strength & Conditioning Association, 2009, Jun.;23(2):1533-4287. Running helps build the muscle that lower-impact workouts ignore, keeping bones healthier even as they age.

18. Get an energy boost.

Feeling sluggish? Try going for a jog instead of lounging on the couch. Just one run can increase energy and decrease fatigue. Hoffman MD, Hoffman DR. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 2008, Mar.;89(2):1532-821X.

19. Take your furry friends.

Dogs are man’s best friend for a reason, and they can be man’s best workout buddy too. Grab a leash and give your pet a new kind of treat.

23. Jam out to speed up.

24. Check off those goals

Studies suggest people who set and meet (or exceed) long-term fitness goals (like signing up for a half-marathon!) are more committed and satisfied with their exercise routines than those who trudge along aimlessly. Dishman RK, Vandenberg RJ, Motl RW. Health education research, 2009, Aug.;25(4):1465-3648. Who doesn’t feel good about crossing items off their bucket list?

25. Show your heart some loving.

People who run for just an hour a week can reduce their risk of heart disease by almost half compared to nonrunners. Tanasescu M, Leitzmann MF, Rimm EB. JAMA, 2002, Nov.;288(16):0098-7484. Williams PT. Atherosclerosis, 2009, Sep.;209(2):1879-1484. And for those already hitting the recommended (that's 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week), an extra spurt of exercise can lower your risk of heart disease even more. (Just be mindful not to overdo it and cause more damage than good.)